Impact of the Death of an Adult Child on Elderly Parents: Some Observations

The impact of the death of an adult child on elderly parents has received little attention. Yet, findings indicate that 10 percent of all elderly parents had a child die after the parent was age sixty. Five generic themes evoked by the death of a child are explored: untimeliness, uniqueness of the parent-child bond, impact on intergenerational relations, loss of social supports, and hope for the future. Implications for research, clinical intervention, and planning are outlined.